Local police departments ramp up patrols following release of Tyre Nichols body camera footage
Police departments in the Hudson Valley are increasing patrols this weekend following the release of the body camera footage from the arrest of Tyre Nichols.
Police and government officials hope for peace this weekend as people viewed the violent footage.
The police departments, like the one in White Plains, are increasing patrols as a precautionary measure in case any protests get out of control this weekend.
The video released Friday night by Memphis authorities of the police encounter with Tyre Nichols happened on Jan. 7 in Memphis, Tennessee and runs about one hour.
The beating lasts for about four minutes.
Authorities in Memphis say five police officers were involved in the beating of 29-year-old Nichols.
They say the officers initially stopped Nichols for a traffic violation. Nichols then ran off and the officers caught up with him and that is when the violent beating was recorded.
Nichols died three days later.
The five officers were terminated and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and several other charges.
Nichols' parents called for accountability in the death of their son. His mother Row Vaughn Wells asked for prayers and called the actions of the officers a disgrace.
New Rochelle NAACP President Mark McLean believes the officers overused the power that came with their jobs.
"This is a deficit of the human spirit. We just have to continue to focus on demanding justice when injustice is perpetrated against our people and our community," McLean said.
McLean also echoed the plea from Nichols' family for people in the Hudson Valley who might demand justice out on the streets this weekend. They have said many times this week they want ​peaceful protests.
"We have to make sure that we respond in a responsible way, in a constructive way, rather than a destructive way," McLean said.
Security expert Sal Lifrieri, of Protective Countermeasures Inc., said in times of civil unrest, police try to protect families, businesses and peaceful protestors. Lifrieri said to do that, they look for agitators who might encourage the violence.
"That's the real problematic area for us in security and law enforcement -- trying to protect the rights of the protestors and that's something that's overlooked. What's overlooked are the groups that come in and cause those problems," Lifrieri added.
McLean said people should be pleased with how Memphis authorities responded.
White Plains police said they are hoping for a peaceful weekend and that they have a good relationship with the community.

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